Barbara Hallquist DeGroot
University of Southern California
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2010
The first woman to receive a full athletic scholarship at the University of Southern California, Barbara Hallquist DeGroot (b. 1957) helped to pioneer a championship legacy for Trojan women’s tennis. Hallquist began tennis lessons at age 10 in Arcadia, California, and with support from the Pasadena Foothill Tennis Patrons, she became a top junior player, winning two national titles and receiving the USTA Girls’ Sportsmanship Trophy in 1975.
At USC, under the guidance of Coach David Borelli, she captured the national collegiate singles title in both 1976 and 1977, and played on four national championship teams. Turning pro after graduating with honors from USC, Hallquist employed her formidable serve-and-volley game to reach the singles quarterfinals at the U.S. Open in 1980, also making two doubles quarterfinal appearances.
She returned to USC from 1985 to 1988 to work with David Borelli as assistant women’s coach, celebrating a national championship title with the 1985 team. Active as a youth sports coach, volunteer and mother, she now serves as varsity tennis coach at Cate School in California.
Career Highlights
- California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Singles Finalist 1973; Champion 1974, 1975
Girls 18 Southern California Junior Sectional Champion 1974; Member of Intersectional Championship Teams 1974, 1975; Maze Cup participant
Girls 18 National Grass Court Singles Finalist; Doubles Champion 1974
Girls 18 National Hard Court Doubles Champion 1974
USTA Girls’ Sportsmanship Trophy Award 1975
First Female to Receive a Full Athletic Scholarship at USC 1975
USTA Collegiate Singles Champion 1976, 1977
AIAW Collegiate Singles Runner-Up 1977; Doubles Runner-Up 1977, 1979
Member of four USC National Championship Teams: USTA 1977, 1978; AIAW 1977, 1979
Four-time All-American 1976–79
Outstanding Female Senior Student- Athlete 1979
Winner of the USC Post Graduate Scholarship Award 1979
21 and Under National Singles Champion 1976
National Amateur Grass Court Doubles Champion 1976
National Amateur Indoor Singles Champion 1977
National Amateur Clay Court Doubles Champion 1977
National Amateur Indoor Doubles Champion 1978
Member, Maureen Connolly Challenge Trophy Team 1976, 1977, 1978
Member, U.S. Junior Federation Cup Team 1976, 1977 (MVP), 1978
B.A., USC (with honors) 1979
U.S. Open Singles Quarterfinalist 1980
U.S. Open Doubles Quarterfinalist 1979, 1980
New South Wales Open Doubles Champion 1979
Member of the Los Angeles Strings, World Team Tennis 1983
Assistant Women’s Tennis Coach, USC, 1985–88; 1985 NCAA team champions
Girls Varsity Tennis Coach, Cate School, Carpinteria, California, 2008–present; league champions 2008–09
